THE Price of Ham proved a winning subject for Stan Cantrill's speech at last week's meeting – even if it mystified his audience at first.

After disarming his listeners with a suitably food-related joke involving items on a Chinese takeaway menu, he moved into the real meat of his talk – the correct order for first aid treatment of soft-tissue sports injuries (Stan's speciality). So it was: Protect-Rest-Ice-Compress-Elevate, to be followed later by Heat, Activity and Massage!

As so often, the subject matter of the other two speeches were in complete contrast. Elaine Watt's reflective talk recalled occasions (often involving her children!) when she had found herself lost for words – and those rarer moments of happiness in life which she described as beyond words. Hard facts formed the basis for Caroline Bellhouse's well-researched piece on the side-effects of world war on animals. This included the chilling statistic that 750,000 were killed in London in a single week, as people parted with their pets which were excluded from air raid shelters or were seen as competing for scarce food resources. Caroline's impromptu 'Table Topic' was voted the evening's best, also involving animals - this time cats, but in much happier contexts.

Evaluation of all speeches is a feature of every meeting, to help speakers to improve their style and technique - and even the evaluators are rated for their performance! On this occasion the vote went to Jim Ballard, a former member of the parent club in Cheltenham, now locally based and rejoining Toastmasters after a four-year break, who was welcomed back by members as a returning prodigal son!

Next meeting will be at the Great Malvern Hotel at 7.30pm on Tuesday, October 28, Meanwhile, plans are being laid for a club Christmas dinner at the Mount Pleasant Hotel on Tuesday, December 9 at which non-member partners and friends will be welcome. For details contact Steve Birch on 01684 568676.

COLIN JACKSON